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stefoakley · Sep 15, 2010, 02:14 AM

Someone was having a shower in the bathroom in the top floor loft conversion. There are a few brown stains on my bedroom ceiling but they were scattered about and I don't know if they're old stains from years back when there was a big flood into my room. The dripping sounded like a dripping tap, echoing around the room. It stopped as soon as the shower stopped.
What should I do?

speedball1 · Sep 15, 2010, 06:33 AM

Is this a condo, apartment or what? The "top floor loft". Has a drainage leak in his shower. Do you have a Condo Board to complain to? Have you talked to your neighbor and informed him he has a problem? My bet id that the putty seal on the drain lip has ruptured and is now leaking onto your bedroom ceiling. He'll never know he has a problem unless you tell him. Oh yes! In addition, since it's his problem all the repair costs should be on him. Good luck, Tom

stefoakley · Sep 15, 2010, 07:15 AM

Thanks Tom,
That's helpful. Unfortunately it's my loft conversion in my house! So I'll have to pay. But maybe I could try and look at the drain lip myself? Whereabouts in the shower basin would it be? It's an individual shower cubicle.
Stef

speedball1 · Sep 15, 2010, 12:16 PM

Hey Stef,
OK! Gotcha on the Condo thing. Too bad that it falls under your responsibility, but hey! If what I think's wrong I can walk you through the repair.

maybe I could try and look at the drain lip myself? Whereabouts in the shower basin would it be?

Shower 101, The shower drain is the hole in the shower floor and the drain lip is the top part of the drain that seals the drain to the shower floor.
Let's check and see if I'm correct. First remove the two screws holding the strainer, Put them in the soap dish where they'll be safe. Now jam wet rags down the drain to stopper it off. Now fill the shower floor with about a inch or so with water and keep watch on your ceiling for any moisture spots. If you see any let the water out of the shower.
You have just determined the drain seal's ruptured and must be replaced.

Then top of the drain will unscrew counterclockwise. Remove it and clean off all the old putty seal. Purchase a small can of plumbers putty and make a ring around the drain lip, (see image) REinstall the top of the drain and tighten it down tight squeezing out most of the putty but leaving the drain sealed. Give yourself a pat on the back. You just saved yourself a hefty repair bill. Cheers. Tom